But my real reason for visiting that day was to try the cinnamon sugar donuts at the newly opened Craft Sweets on the Highline, located in Chelsea Market Passage (do I ever go anywhere unless it's food related?!):

"Reinvented for our present time and needs, New Amsterdam Market will incubate a new and growing business sector: purveyors who source food directly from farmers and producers whom they trust to be good stewards of our land and waters. Centered in this Region - once called New Netherland - New Amsterdam Market will foster a renewed appreciation for our natural environment and its ongoing potential to nourish. And as true of public markets, New Amsterdam Market will be accessible to all, striving to diminish the economic, social, and educational impediments to sound nutrition."- from the New Amsterdam Market website

The New Amsterdam market is currently operating as a monthly outdoor event in South Street Seaport, next to the old Fulton Fish Market. Yesterday's event ran from 11am to 4pm and we arrived around noon to a crazy jam-packed market. While I tend to enjoy the energy of a bustling market, hubby found it way too chaotic. Luckily, I convinced him to stay by bribing him with some gelato from The Bent Spoon:Roasted pumpkin cocoa nib ice cream (YUM!):Next up, a sandwich from Porchetta, filled with roasted pork (complete with crackling pork skin):We loved the flavor and tenderness of the meat, you could really taste the seasoning and herbs. However, hubby didn't love the overly crusty bread and the hardness of the pork skin (Kris said he almost broke his teeth when he inadvertently bit down too hard; but as a pork skin lover, I actually enjoyed gnawing the heck out of it).

After the sandwich we found ourselves craving something sweet, but instead came across some tempting savory pastries at Saltie:We just couldn't resist the visual appeal of the potato, leek & cheese pie, especially the vibrant contrast between the pickled onions and the yellow mustard:Tasty and filling but I probably would have enjoyed it more if it was warmed up. Kris disagreed, saying it was perfect at room temperature.

We also stopped to chat with the friendly folks of Stone Barns after noticing that they sell hard-to-find leaf lard:Leaf lard, rendered from the fat which surrounds a pig's kidney, is considered the finest lard for baking because of its neutral taste. Stone Barn's product is made from their pasture-grazed Berkshire pigs. I was really tempted to buy some and bake the perfect pie crust with it, but ended up walking away empty handed (didn't want to carry around a pound of lard in my purse during a unseasonably warm day).

And check out the line up for lobster rolls at Luke's Lobster:New Amsterdam Markethttp://www.newamsterdammarket.org/South Street, between Beekman Street and Peck SlipOn the East River waterfront in Lower Manhattan11:00am to 4:00pmFuture 2009 market dates:Nov 22nd, Dec 20th

Gosh, i love that thing with all the coloured glass windows, thats beautiful (as are the donuts :)). I noticed something a little strange. There is a picture of me here. I noticed a little piggy at the New Amsterdam market. Moi didn't realize the paparazzi were about or i would have been wearing my sun glasses daaaaaaahling. Cool to see that places like porchetta and the bent spoon were out there, looks like lots of fun :D

We've been meaning to go to the High Line to check it out - can never have enough green spaces in NYC! Btw, thanks for checking out our site - maybe we ran into each other at the New Amsterdam Market without knowing it! =)

high low: no prob, your blog is awesome! The high line was really cool and much better than I'd expected, we'd seen it beforehand on a travel show and at the time of filming the plantings were still looking anemic. But they've all grown in now and are sporting beautiful autumn colors. I heart NY in the fall...

I still haven't been to highline but need to go soon! Hopefully, if the weather is nice next Saturday, I'll go! I didn't know about the New Amsterdam Market! I have to check that out as well! Is it open year round? That pumpkin cocoa nib ice cream is calling my name!

Sue: Can't wait to go back and 'walk the High Line' after they finish the entire project. I think it'll be a couple miles long when they're done!

OysterCulture: 'grumpy gus' occasionally makes an appearance on my food crawls, but transforms back to my adorable hubby once I feed him some ice cream :)

Teanna: Hi Teanna, the New Amsterdam market is only a a one-day event right now. I think the organizers are hoping it can become a permanent market at some point, but there are only 2 more schedule dates in 2009 - Nov 22 and Dec 20. Have fun!

Hi Christine, thanks for the link :) I scored 76/100. I just had spam for dinner last night, tried currywurst for the 1st time a couple weeks ago, and was thrilled to see poutine on the list. Things I probably will never eat: horse, roadkill, or raw scotch bonnet pepper. Looking forward most to trying: haggis.